No divas here 👑
Renée Jean Cassels
BSc(Hons)(Ecology & Zoology) | AdvDipBus(Marketing)
I’m an experienced marketing professional and graphic designer. For over 20 years, I’ve applied my passion for quality solutions and genuine drive for exceeding client expectations to successfully deliver projects for many of the world’s largest companies and Australia’s best known brands. These include BHP, Anglo American, Origin, BirdLife Australia, Bechtel, Coca-Cola Amatil, Macquarie Bank, NAB, Arrow Energy, MYER, and Woolworths to name just a few.
Graphic designer
I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land where I live and work and their connections to land, sea and community. I pay respect to their Elders past, present, and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. Always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
Living and creating on Darkinjung Country
20 years' experience
My approach aims to strike the perfect balance between commercial results and beautiful design. From the start I seek to understand your organisational and commercial realities and then use my experience and initiative to deliver quality solutions. If you're time poor or branding and design isn't your bag, I'm resourceful and can think for myself so you can focus on your work with full confidence in the final product. My straight forward systems and processes will ensure your project is successfully completed on-time and on-budget – and most importantly – that you will be delighted with the results.
Brand visual identity, graphic design and websites 👩🏻💻
What I care about
I care deeply about the natural world and the challenges it's facing. I am passionate about giving back through volunteering and have been the Secretary of BirdLife Northern Queensland for the past 8 years. Together we are working to protect birds across Northern Queensland. I also love travelling and have been to Africa, Borneo, Japan, the USA, Thailand and Cambodia, New Zealand, as well as getting across a huge chunk of Australia. I relish getting off the beaten track and having new experiences that aren't in the Lonely Planet Guide. I'm a person of action and if I say I'm going to do something I do it. Life is too short and I'm excited to be at the beginning of my next chapter.
Where I'm at
I've been a freelance graphic designer for the past 8 years. I love working for myself and live on the stunning New South Wales Central Coast with my best friend and partner. Surrounded by national parks and stunning beaches we love to hike, camp, play poker at the local RSL on date night, and snuggle on the couch for trashy MAFS binges when we want to hide out from the world. We are both ethical vegans and love to go deep on current events, existential ideas, and social issues over a rye whiskey cocktail. Recently we bought a house together so our next adventure is about to start. Better buy shares in Bunnings.
Where I come from
I was raised by a single mother who taught my sister and I that women can do anything. My mum had guts and personality. She completed her hair dressing apprenticeship and opened a salon at 16 when girls were meant to leave school early and become secretaries. She travelled the world when society said she should be having kids and getting married. Growing up, we had very little money but she always did everything she could to make the small things special. She was strict, but encouraged my creativity and love of art and told me often that I got my talents from her. As a young person I resisted that idea while I tried to forge my own path. Now, as I get older I can see how very like her I am. And that makes me proud.
Growing up
Born and raised on the Gold Coast, I loved art and science at school. I always knew I wanted to make something of my life and wasn’t afraid to put myself in the way of opportunity and hard work. At 21 I decided that a move to Sydney would help me to begin my professional career and expand my horizons, so I packed my bags and headed to the big smoke.
1981 – 2002
My story
Scientifically trained as an ecologist. Drawn to design. I am now actively involved in conservation volunteering while working in the creative sector in service of organisations with shared vision and values.
Two passions, one lifetime 🦉
Most people think that science and creativity are oppositional mind and skill sets. However, I have found them to be very complimentary. A scientific approach to creativity increases depth of strategy and quality of execution. And creativity is essential to the thinking required to understand complex concepts and solve problems in science.
I’m no creative diva. I listen to you and what you need, and deliver the right solution for you. Not me. We’re all guilty of falling in love with our own ideas, but I’m aware of that and never hesitate to let go of the ego. I’ll always be able to explain what I have done and why I have done it, but if it’s still not working for you, I’ll make sure you get what you want without compromising quality or service.
I’m a problem solver who loves systems, both natural and created. A flexible thinker who enjoys taking an unconventional approach to many aspects of life. I love dissecting tricky, multilayered problems and developing creative solutions. You’ll never see cliché stock imagery from me. I always want to deliver original thinking and quality design no matter how big or small the project.
Quality design is an investment in your business’ longevity and success. But I’m not about spending your money on my creative pursuits. I’m an experienced professional who will understand your commercial problem and help you solve it in the smartest way possible while being profitable for both of us. I’ll only recommend solutions based on what you need and within your budget.
I won’t come to you with problems. I’m all about solutions. I don’t dwell on them and they don’t throw me off course. To me, a problem is just a question. And I relish the opportunity to work to answer it in the most creative, efficient, and effective way possible. Why engage me if you’ve got to do all the work yourself?
I make it my business to understand your business. My clients are often time poor and want to work with someone who intuitively understands the problem, sees the opportunity, and consistently delivers quality solutions. I always think for myself and will fill in the gaps, make suggestions, or take a project and run with it so you don’t have to hold my hand and waste your time.
I am dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and believe in developing strong relationships with my clients to better understand their needs. I approach everything I do with a view to adding value whenever and wherever I can. Whether its proofreading and editing the text you haven’t had time to do, to making recommendations for applications of the design that you may not have thought of.
I come to you with everything I need to do the job. I work on project-based pricing and will always be happy to provide a quotation based on your brief before we start. I won’t charge you for unnecessary things and will always make recommendations based on your budget not mine. In my experience, this works better for everyone and allows me to go the extra mile when needed.
My values
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Being real and genuine and honest is key to who I am. Without it you are only kidding yourself. I want to close my eyes for the last time and be OK with who I was in this life.
Integrity
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I adore beauty (but I don't mean conventional beauty). For me, beauty is in the intangible, the unplanned, the original, the unique, the moment. Nature is the epitome of beauty.
Beauty
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I believe in order to be happy in life and enjoy success both personally and professionally, we must give more than we take through being of service to something bigger than ourselves.
Service
